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L'étage Opens Above Brasserie 54

After a delicious French dinner at Brasserie 54 by LM, venture upstairs for a nightcap at L’étage, the new wine and cocktail lounge above the Andersonville restaurant. Adorned in burgundy, gray, and black, the intimate area seats just 40 guests and is only open Thursday-Sunday (5 pm-2 am).

While the restaurant downstairs offers wine to accompany dinner, L’étage’s short list of bottles (only 20 carefully-selected labels, both domestic and French) is exclusive from Brasserie’s. The menu isn’t only wine, though—cocktails, spirits, and a lengthy list of liqueurs fill it out.

As far as the cocktails are concerned, there are quite a few of note. The bar’s only vodka drink, dubbed the Femme Fatale, is a heady mix of Fair quinoa vodka, pear shrub, pear brandy, lemon juice, and bubbly. Meanwhile, The Upper Manhattan, described on the menu as “a little bit more than a perfect Manhattan,” mixes Henry du Yore’s bourbon, Dolin’s sweet and dry vermouth, and house-made fig and elderberry bitters. Likewise, the French 54 promises to be an enhanced version of the more common French 75, with gin, a sugar cube, Lillet blanc, lemon, and Champagne. For something completely different, The Symphonie Aigre-Douce combines pink grapefruit, G’Vine Flouraissant gin, Luxardo bitter liqueur, lemon, and honey.

Although an abbreviated food menu in the upstairs bar includes charcuterie and cheeses, you’ll likely be full from your sumptuous meal at Brasserie. If that’s the case, opt for dessert instead. The macaroons—in chocolate, pistachio, mango, or cassis—are delicious. 5420 N. Clark St., 2nd Fl., Andersonville, 773-334-9463

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